Town target FA Cup third round

Luton Town managing director Gary Sweet has admitted only a run to the third round in the FA Cup could make a real difference to the Hatters’ finances, writes Mark Wood.

Town will host Nuneaton Town in the first round, but any profit looks likely to now be swallowed up by policing costs.

Sweet said: “We don’t budget for cup runs at all, but we do re-utilise the cash that a cup run gives us and primarily from the early round that comes from prize money rather than ticket receipts.

“Almost all of the profit would be taken up by policing and stewarding bills, given the attendance we would expect.

“So it’s really the prize money we are playing for in that case.”

What would happen to the money from any potential money-spinning ties in later rounds would be decided by the board.

Sweet added: “We are very grateful of the funds that will come in from the three ties we would have before the third round, but when we get to the third round we have to look at how we use those funds.

“The football club loses money and it’s private equity that goes in to support that every year. So actually by rights it just closes the gap.”